DBWI: Russian-American hostility

[Kotka]

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the United States and Russia have enjoyed a special relationship where all the hostility of the Cold War has become a thing of the past. Now both nations are allies in economic, security and cultural aspects.
Of course this hasn't been of China's linking, but many political scientists agree that the Russian-American-European triumvirate has led to a better and safer world.

But what if Russia and the US had kept their rivalry? How different could the world be?

 

[M79]

The friendship had roots in the Russian assistance to the US from the time of the Civil War onwards bolstered by memories of the Nazi as a common enemy. As soon as the curtain fell good will was bound to return, never mind a few roughians.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

I suppose a nationalist leader could come to power in Russia (America seems too unlikely) and want to re-expand Russia’s borders towards Russian Empire-like proportions? This would reignite Russo-Polish enmity and cause tensions in Europe with Russia the pariah.

Unlikely I know, what with Russia’s lust for popular democracy in the aftermath of the Communist era, but it might happen if Gorbachev had been softer in his transition measures.

 

[Kara0616]

Well if that Vladimir Putin guy had ended up in power then there would definitely be hostility towards America but he was killed by NATO forces during his failed coup against the Russian government, so maybe if he hadn't tried to start a coup he could have ran for President. Or if his Coup succeeded and he took power that's another what if in it of itself.

 

[bunhead]

Well if that Vladimir Putin guy had ended up in power then there would definitely be hostility towards America but he was killed by NATO forces during his failed coup against the Russian government, so maybe if he hadn't tried to start a coup he could have ran for President. Or if his Coup succeeded and he took power that's another what if in it of itself.

The thing about Putin, like a lot of would-be dictators, is that he was an opportunist. It's just that his opportunity wasn't quite as good as he thought it'd be, the Russian populace wasn't so keen on having another dictator, and the army collaborated with NATO forces to capture and accidentally kill him. Had the financial crash been a little rougher, or the relief hadn't been handled so masterfully by Gorbachev, then he could've succeeded. However, I think this counts out exactly how little Russians wanted another autocrat, as they'd just gotten out of the Soviet Union, and were pretty mad that some guy had the audacity to try to go back to that.

 

[theg*ddam*hoi2fan]

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the United States and Russia have enjoyed a special relationship where all the hostility of the Cold War has become a thing of the past. Now both nations are allies in economic, security and cultural aspects.
Of course this hasn't been of China's linking, but many political scientists agree that the Russian-American-European triumvirate has led to a better and safer world.

But what if Russia and the US had kept their rivalry? How different could the world be?

If the Russian economy had tanked during the 90s I can see this happening. The 'shock therapy' ideas being floated re privatisation could have really done a number on the place. But with OTL... The tight regulation on business, the organisation of labour unions, stuff like that... Economic growth was slow to be sure, but it was steady, and a lot more stable. Plus, you didn't have rampant dislocation to the workforce, the way shock therapy could have caused.

Economic collapse leads to desperate people, leads to other issues. But while the Russian economy was 'ticking over', it did see modest growth with the 'gradual shift' idea, and it meant that the people were at least consoled that things weren't changing too fast and that they'd be no worse off.

 

[Whiteshore]

Maybe have the Russian Federation be reduced to only the RSFSR as the Russian Federation hung on to Belarus, Azerbaijan, and the Central Asian Republics when the USSR fell? Maybe a more thorough Soviet collapse reducing Russia to the RSFSR could have led to more revanchism in Russia?